Mixed OS P-to-P Network

[jaws1nbt]

I am looking to the forum's vast knowledge and expertise to help me through this "challenge." I am a network newbie but have been asked to help "clean-up the peer-to-peer network at my local ice rink. (Since I built some of their computers and help with most of their computer software issues, I automatically got tagged with the Sys Admin responsibilities.)

Here's the situation:

1. The rink has a peer-to-peer network set-up with computers running Win98 SE and one with Windows XP Home.
The computer running XP cannot access the main office computer or any of the other computers with shared resources and needs access to the main office computer's laser printer.

2. The main office computer is set-up with a DSL modem and all of the other computers share this one connection. This computer is the closest thing to a server because it also has their main laserjet printer attached to it and shared. It is running Win98SE.

3. There are three other computers in the network that are running Win98SE they have sporadic issues accessing a shared color inkjet printer.

I have checked through the network properties of all the machines and found that all of the Win98 nodes are set-up with both TCP/IP and NETBEUI protocols. The XP computer is only set-up with TCP/IP protocol.

All of the computers are set to obtain an IP address automatically except for the main office computer (the with the DSL modem.) The main office computer is the only one with a static IP address and a defined gateway. It uses an onboard NIC to connect it with the other computers (via a hub) and the DSL modem is connected to a PCI NIC. Both ethernet adapters have their own static IP addresses.

File and print sharing are enabled.

ALL of these settings were pre-existing and seemed to work for them until the XP computer was brought in. I know there are other details that are needed to help clear this up and I will try to provide them as needed.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[jaws1nbt]

BTW - just thought I'd add that I do this on a voluntary basis for the rink because they can't afford a professional and I benefit from the first hand experience and the free ice time I get in trade :)

[gunrunnerjohn]

If you add NETBEUI to the XP machine, you'll probably resolve the browsing issue.

[jaws1nbt]

Well, I was back at the rink this afternoon and did a few things:

1. I ran "ipconfig" on all four of the machines and logged the IP, Subnet Mask, and Gateway settings. They all had the same Subnet Mask and Gateway settings, and the IP Address were within the same range.

2. I pinged all the known IP addresses from the XP machine and received replies from all. Still, I couldn't map any drives -- I'm thinking something to do with the persmissions and administrative rights but the vendor who built the computer said the default user (auto) has admin rights.

3. I was browsing through the main office computer and found out that there is a "server" program (called "All_Aboard Server") that was responsible for the network settings and the IP addresses. I tried to browse to the company support site and found that the company no longer exists.

Tomorrow I'll have to try something different. Any other ideas?

BTW, gunrunnerjohn, I couldn't find NETBEUI when I tried to add that protocol. I'm not sure if it's on the disc because the computer was built as a POS terminal and not a workstation.

[glc]

1. Best thing to do is replace the hub with a router (or add a single port router to the hub) and get rid of the "server" program and the DSL "connection manager" if it uses one. Plug the DSL modem into the router and configure the router for the DSL connection, remove the PCI nic in the old "server" computer.

2. Instructions for adding NetBEUI to an XP box:
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/itpro/networking/netbeui.asp

[jaws1nbt]

I agree that the best thing to do is to replace the hub with a router and rebuild this network from scratch. It might be easier to do it that way instead of trying to resolve all the problems...maybe?

Latest issue is a hard drive crash on the Reception computer...but back to the current issue:

I'm still not able to connect to the other computers over the network although I can ping the IP addresses from each location and receive replies back and I'm able to access the Internet from each working station. I don't know if I mentioned that the DSL modem is connected to a PCI NIC which in turn has it's own IP address (that is different from the rest ..ie not 192.xx.xx.x)

I'm sitting here in a fog looking for articles, references, and any other bits of information that I can find...maybe I'll take a trip to Fry's and do some research in their cafe'.

I appreciate your responses.